Enjoy the Greek lifestyle - the bright blue sea, the golden sun and tastiest food! Relax on the beach or visit the ancient sites!
Crete is an island in the sun, surrounded by the clear, blue sea and has a rough and wild landscape with mountains reaching 2,5 km high. You can ride within the silence of nature on the tiny island covered with olive-trees, beautiful and natural landscapes, historical places with timeless myths and astonishing tracks to follow. Swim in the ocean and dry on the deserted beach.

The moment you arrive on the hillside, you experience quiet serenity and have a tremendous panoramic view. Under us stretches the Langada Valley with the Apposelemis River crossing through, above us rise the red coloured peaks of the Dikti Mountains. Birds of prey, like the Griffon Vulture, glide along these peaks. The estate is surrounded by a protected Kerm Oak forest and the olive groves stretch down into the valley. On the estate, many protected trees and flowers can be found, many different types of beautiful orchids grow.

In the area around Avdou, there is still unlimited space for horseback riding, in nature that has been left unspoiled. Every day we set out on a new track, with an experienced guide, through beautiful landscapes. The Star Trips are for experienced to medium experienced riders. This active holiday, combines all the good aspects of the Cretan life- relaxing on the beach or swimming in the pool, visiting the ancient sites, meeting the friendly locals, enjoying the delicious Greek food and taking our 4 footed friends for a unique ride during the cool evening hours.

Panorama Ride on Crete
(2018) -
IT-GR-SRCR02

Rates include*:
Accommodations in 4 star equestrian hotel Velani with swimming pool, all meals from dinner on the first night to breakfast on the last morning, lodging in private rooms with bath, daily room clean, 6 riding days (23 hrs), English speaking guide. Rates are based on 2 people in the Grand Comfort room or 3 people in the Panorama VIP room.

Rates Note:

Non riders: There are many activity options available - from Para-gliding to Caving, Mountain Biking and Hiking to Golfing (5 miles away)

Transfer and Other Charges:

Description

EUR

~US$

2018

Transfer from Heraklion airport one way, per car (up to 4 pax)This is a "Group Rate" - to be paid locally

€50

$60

2018

Transfer from Heraklion city center one way, per car (up to 4 pax)This is a "Group Rate" - to be paid locally

€55

$70

2018

Transfer from Hersonissos one way, per car (up to 4 pax)This is a "Group Rate" - to be paid locally

€25

$30

2018

Single supplement (requested)

€175

$210

2018

Upgrade to luxury room, dbl, pp

€175

$210

2018

Non-rider discount

€-400

$-480

2018

Child rates- please inquire

€0

$0

How to travel to Crete By Air: A direct flight to Heraklion, Kazantzakis International Airport.
Or from Athens, by domestic flight to Heraklion Airport (flights go almost every hour). Domestic flights are offered by Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines. By boat: A ferry service in between Crete and Piraeus (Port of Athens) is offered by Minoan Lines and Anek Lines. The ferry departs in the evening and arrives the next morning very early. During the high season there is also an extra service during the day.
Private transfers are available from the airport (International or domestic), and the port. Or you can take a local bus to the hotel.

Rates do not include:
Drinks, dessert. Transfer from Iraklio (Heraklion) airport not included (paid locally).

Itinerary for
Panorama Ride on Crete

Sample itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival, a welcome tour through the stables, a dive in the pool and evening dinner in the Restaurant. A briefing about the trail route.

Day 2 : Ancient Lyttos RideWe ride up to visit the archaeological site of the ancient city of Lyttos giving an excellent view over the valley of Kastelli. The city of Lyttos (meaning high, tall), was a strong town and a rival of Knossos. The army of the city joined the Trojan War and the city was already mentioned by Homer as Lyktos. During the roman period Lyttos was an autonomous city with great fame. It had an aqua duct, theatre and acropolis, nowadays little can be seen of this as excavations of the site has not been done yet. The site has 2 churches. After the visit we ride along the remains of this roman aqua duct. (4 hours in the saddle, a visit to Lyttos and a lunch stop under the olive trees)

Day 3: Olive RideWe make an active trip in north direction, we ride up the hills of Sfendili. We cross the Byzantine church of Avdou, we ride quick over the plateau of Mochos and have an excellent view to the Psiloritis Mountains, highest peaks of the island (2.5 km). (4 hours in the saddle)

Day 4: Lake Aposelemis River Ride
A man-made damn was closed in 2015, creating a 3km long lake. The water attracts all kinds of birds and animals, creating a very special biotope. We follow the lake's edges and ride along the abandoned village of Sfendily, which is now half sunken into the surface of the water. (4 hours in the saddle)

Day 5: Red Rock Ride
A steep climb up the mountain giving you an excellent view over the stables and the Langada valley. We ride through Kerm Oak forest to visit the mysterious Church of the Saint Fotini which is hidden deep into a Cave. (2.5 hours in the saddle and a visit to the cave)

Day 6: Vulture Gorge Ride
We ride through the gorge of Gonies to start our spectacular climb to the Greek village of Kera at 800 meters. Here we make a lunch break in Restaurant Niki, before we start our decent along the springs of Kera. (5 hours in the saddle).

Day 7: Cypress Ride
The last day we ride out through a very quiet beautiful valley full of olive groves, we ride along a small cypress forest and make some steep descends with the horses which we now fully trust. (3 hours in the saddle)

Day 8: Breakfast and departure.Some days we take with us a lunch in the saddle bags which we enjoy at a quiet place in the shadow of the olive trees. A saddlebag-lunch can be bought in the restaurant.

--Subject to changes--

Other Info

How to travel to Crete By Air: A direct flight to Heraklion, Kazantzakis International Airport.
Or from Athens, by domestic flight to Heraklion Airport (flights go almost every hour). Domestic flights are offered by Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines. By boat: A ferry service in between Crete and Piraeus (Port of Athens) is offered by Minoan Lines and Anek Lines. The ferry departs in the evening and arrives the next morning very early. During the high season there is also an extra service during the day.
Private transfers are available from the airport (International or domestic), and the port. Or you can take a local bus to the hotel.

Horses - there are: 2 Arabic horse, 1 Berber, 2 Thoroughbreds, 4 Dutch warm bloods, 4 Greek warm bloods, and for the guide 1 Hanoveran. For the children we have 1 Welsh pony.We ride on warm blood horses and thoroughbreds as they have a long breath and a never tiring will for long distance riding. Training them especially for the mountain work makes that we have a challenging travel companion for you. Full of strength and courage. But in the same time be surprised how cool in the head and safe our horses are. Especially for the novice rider we use reliable and easy horses, to give them the trust and safety that he or she needs. But for all our horses’ counts that they are friendly, well cared for, good fed, well trained and all have an excellent condition for the long distance riding.

Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passport required by all except: (a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. Passports must be valid for the following durations:(a) British and EU (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republi. more

Climate for
Panorama Ride on Crete

The island of Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate meaning it experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters. Crete has the mildest climate of anywhere in Greece. Summer sees almost no rain, while winter months, especially December to February, can be quite wet. Average temperatures are at their peak in July and August at 26 ºC while January and February see temperatures of 12 ºC on average.

In general, Crete experiences winter days that can sometimes be rainy and windy and feel quite cold. January sees the most rainfall, with some parts of the island averaging 14 rainy days in the month. Showers are frequent from November until February. Winter temperatures average about 12-14ºC. Temperature rarely falls much below double figures in lowland and coastal Crete though Heraklion did record a temperature of -0.8 ºC in 2004. In February 2004 Crete did experience an unusually cold period of weather which saw the whole island dusted in snow. Normally, though, snow is very rare anywhere on the island apart from in the higher mountains.

Springtime weather on the island can still see a number of rainy days, especially in the north, though clear and mild days are frequent. Temperatures can begin to hit the 20s and the sea begins to warm up.

Summer begins in earnest from June. The period June to September sees almost no rainfall and average temperatures of around 25 ºC. Daytime temperature in mid summer is often in the low 30s, though can sometimes reach up to 40 ºC. Summer 2002 saw the mercury rise to a stifling 45 ºC.

Temperatures begin to cool off in late September, and the now dry island begins to receive some much needed rainfall. Early autumn is a pleasant time with calm, clear days. The weather becomes more unstable from November as rainy and windy days increase, though sunny days with temperatures in the low 20s are not uncommon.

Different parts of Crete can experience very different weather patterns, due in the main to the weather barrier created by the mountain ranges that stretch from ease to west across the island. The south is on average a couple of degrees warmer than the north and is also drier. Similarly eastern Crete is drier and warmer than those regions in the west.

Crete straddles two climatic zones – Mediterranean and North African. Southern Crete falls into the North African climate zone, enjoying warmer weather and averaging over 2800 hours of sunshine a year. The varying climates on the island are reflected by the landscape and vegetation. The south can be very arid, especially in summer, while the north is more green and verdant. Southern Crete’s similarities with the North African climate are evident in the fact that African swallows remain year round rather than migrating south.

The mountain regions can experience heavy snowfall in winter due to their high elevation. Snow can often remain on the higher peaks such as Mt Ida until June. At these heights there is a distinctly mountainous climate, with large temperature variations between the seasons. Weather conditions often change rapidly. This mountain climate is very different from the coastal and lowland regions on the rest of the island.

The winds that visit Crete have an important role in shaping the island’s weather patterns. Cold, wet and windy winter days are experienced when the strong northern winds hit the island. The sirocco winds arrive from the southeast bringing hot, sand filled air from the deserts of Africa. When the sirocco winds arrive the island becomes very dusty and hot and visibility can fall. However, when they blow in winter they bring warm air and pleasant temperatures. Southerly winds in the summer months can sometimes bring stifling temperatures of up to 45 ºC. On other summer days the welcome ‘meltimi’ winds arrive from the north-west bringing a much needed cooling breeze to the island. When the wind blows from the east, Crete usually experiences calm and clear weather.

Sea temperatures around Crete are generally warm, and bathers can swim comfortably from May right up to November. The water remains above 20 ºC during these months, peaking at 25 ºC in high summer. The sea temperature will drop to about 15 ºC in February before beginning to warm again with the onset of spring.

What to Bring for
Panorama Ride on Crete

In the mountains it can also be cold in May or September.
The hotel has laundry available, one wash costs 5 euro.

This list is only a guideline for you

Travel documents and Voucher

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!). No jeans.

Riding boots that are also comfortable for walking. Mini chaps.

Riding helmet. Best if you bring you own. We have simple helmets for free in the stables.

Riding gloves

Hat (with chin strap) for sun protection

Lightweight Rain coat

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Underwear and socks

Pyjamas

Bag for dirty clothes

Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes

Swimsuit

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect protection

Personal medications

Sore cream (for the emergency)

Sewing kit

Handkerchiefs

Adapter for electric appliances

Camera and enough extra film or batteries

Belt pack

Address book and pen (for postcards!)

Sun glasses with strap

Sun tan lotion and lip balm

Video for
Panorama Ride on Crete

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Google Map for
Panorama Ride on Crete

Average Tour Ratings for
Panorama Ride on Crete

*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.

Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.

Accommodations for
Panorama Ride on Crete

The moment you arrive on the hillside you experience the serene quietness and the tremendous panoramic view. Under us stretches the Langada Valley where the Apposelemis River flows. Above us rise the red colored peaks of the Dikti Mountains. Birds of prey, like the Griffon Vulture, glide along these peaks. The estate is surrounded by protected Kerm Oak forest and olive groves stretching down to the valley. On the estate many protected trees and flowers can be found, like different type of beautiful orchids.

The hotel suits its surroundings; it is built with real natural stones collected from the land it stands on which give it a robust and natural look. The hotel has a neo-classic style creating a romantic atmosphere for long summer nights.

The main building houses the reception, and a cafe with a large balcony on witch you can drink your Greek coffee or Rakí. In the main building you also find Restaurant Veláni with its large terrace overlooking the riding place and the valley. The restaurant serves the Cretan diet which is famous for being healthy and the use of olive oil. The olive oil is our own, produced by the olive grove of the estate. Reception, café and restaurant have operating hours.

On the arrival day guests are welcome the whole day, but guests rooms are not ready before 2pm. On departure day guests leave the room before 10.30am, but are welcome to spend their last day in the hotel. A shower/changing room and toilets are available.

The 12 hotel rooms are grouped into 2 bungalows each housing 6 rooms. The bungalows lay quietly separate from the main activities. The rooms are large and comfortable and all have a tremendous view over the valley. Each room has a large bathroom with bathtub and hair dryer. The rooms have a fireplace, heating and air conditioning, a fridge, a large glass door of 2 meter and a private balcony or terrace. Most rooms are equipped with a wood stove, wood is provided for free.
The hotel has WIFI internet connection for free in the main building and on the terrace. Next to the main building lays the naturally formed large swimming pool 100 m2 (130 – 160 m deep) with a separate, lower situated, children pool of 11m2 (40 cm deep).

The estate also is home to 14 horses and 2 ponies. The stables are built with natural stones, but above all they are designed to be horse friendly!

Meals The stay is on a basis of full board: breakfast, lunches and dinner at the restaurant. Dinner is your choice from the menu and includes a starter, main dish and salad. Drinks, lunch, desserts and other foods are not included. The food we serve is traditional Cretan/Greek - food from a traditional woodfire oven, many vegetable dishes, mezedes, or grilled meat. Sometimes our guests prefer if we eat the Greek way (mezedes) and we put several dishes in the middle so everyone can try them!

Other activities:

The following activities are available nearby (no included)Paragliding (only for experienced flyers), hiking, caving and mountain climbing for all levels. It is possible to rent mountain bikes.
A 18 hole golf course is located nearby (5 miles). The wide sandy beach of Anissaras is 10 miles away.

Horses - there are: 2 Arabic horse, 1 Berber, 2 Thoroughbreds, 4 Dutch warm bloods, 4 Greek warm bloods, and for the guide 1 Hanoveran. For the children we have 1 Welsh pony.We ride on warm blood horses and thoroughbreds as they have a long breath and a never tiring will for long distance riding. Training them especially for the mountain work makes that we have a challenging travel companion for you. Full of strength and courage. But in the same time be surprised how cool in the head and safe our horses are. Especially for the novice rider we use reliable and easy horses, to give them the trust and safety that he or she needs. But for all our horses’ counts that they are friendly, well cared for, good fed, well trained and all have an excellent condition for the long distance riding.

Visa Requirement For
Panorama Ride on Crete

Passports
Passport required by all except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passports must be valid for the following durations:
(a) British and EU (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia) passports must be valid for length of intended stay.
(b) Australian, Canadian, USA and excluded EU passports must be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay.
Note: EU and EEA nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
Greece is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Romania and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
(a) 2. EU nationals staying more than 90 days or for employment (including establishing a business, trade, profession or commercial activity) have to apply in person to the consulate general of Greece for a national visa; (b) Greece refuses admission and transit to holders of travel documents issued by the area of Cyprus not controlled by the Government of Cyprus, and holders of UN laissez-passers; (c) Some nationals may have to register with the Aliens Department of the nearest police station within 48 hours of arrival. Contact the nearest embassy/consulate to determine whether this is necessary prior to travel.
Types of Visa and Cost
National visa: £30.
Working Days Required
Three to 14, dependent upon nationality.

Passport Required?

British

Yes

Australian

Yes

Canadian

Yes

USA

Yes

Other EU

1

Visa Required?

British

No/2

Australian

No

Canadian

No

USA

No

Other EU

No/2

Return Ticket Required?

British

No

Australian

Yes

Canadian

Yes

USA

Yes

Other EU

No

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.